Start by cooking the bacon in a large, oven-safe pot or Dutch oven over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon and set it aside.
Season the beef with salt and pepper. In the same pot, brown the beef in the bacon grease over medium-high heat. Once browned, set the beef aside.
Add the onion, carrot, and celery to the pot, cooking for 7-10 minutes until the veggies are tender.
Stir in the garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Pour in the broth and crushed tomatoes, then add the thyme, rosemary, Italian seasoning, bay leaves, and the cooked bacon. Mix everything together before adding the browned beef back to the pot.